Over the weekend, Northern Light Health, a major healthcare provider in Maine, experienced a cyberattack targeting its computer servers, prompting the temporary shutdown of all patient records. Despite reassurances that patient records were not stored on the affected servers, the company took precautionary measures by bringing down all servers while investigating the detected abnormality in their systems. Suzanne Spruce, a senior vice president at Northern Light Health, highlighted the decision to take servers offline as a precautionary step, emphasizing the company’s commitment to ensuring patient safety and privacy.
Despite the disruption caused by the cyberattack, patient care remained unaffected, with all Northern Light Hospitals continuing operations throughout the weekend. The company’s teams worked tirelessly to review and restore server functionality, conducting a thorough examination to ensure the servers were in working order and secure from further threats. While the investigation into the cyberattack is ongoing, Northern Light Health stated that there is no indication that any of their information has been held for ransom, indicating a focus on addressing the breach swiftly and safeguarding patient data.
Northern Light Health anticipated bringing all servers back online by Monday, aiming to resume electronic medical record access and restore normal operations. However, the source of the cyberattack remains unknown, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by cybersecurity breaches to healthcare organizations. Despite this setback, Northern Light Health’s proactive response to the incident underscores the importance of prioritizing patient safety and privacy in the face of evolving cyber threats, signaling a commitment to mitigating risks and enhancing cybersecurity measures in the future.
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